LACMTA taps Atkins for engineering needs

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has selected Atkins to serve as a general engineering consultant (GEC) in support of Metro's rail network operations, maintenance, and expansion plans, Epsom, England-based Atkins said Aug. 5, 2013.

Jon McDonald, Atkins' business sector manager, said, "Los Angeles is one of the nation's largest, most populous counties and Metro is the country's third-largest transit agency, having built six rail lines with almost 90 miles of track and 80 stations since opening its Blue Line in 1990. With funding from a variety of sources, the authority is likely to spend more than $20 billion over the next 10 years to maintain, upgrade, and expand its rail system.

"This selection positions our transit and rail group with a major new client in a new market, and we're pleased that Metro recognizes the wide range of skills we bring to the table," McDonald said.

Atkins will be part of a GEC framework and companies are selected on an as-needed, task-order basis to bid to provide such services as: computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), train control design, programming, and review, communication design, traction power design and relay calibration, and civil/facilities design.